NMI men blank Guam, 2-0

The skill level of football in the NMI is clearly on the up and up and is attested by stellar performances of both the women’s and men’s teams at home over the past couple of weeks.

The NMI Men’s U20 National Team grabbed their chance at the spotlight in a big way during the first match of two in the Marianas Football Cup 2024 as they blanked the Guam Men’s U20 National Team last Saturday, 2-0, at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

This, after the NMI Women’s U21 National Team swept the competition over Guam and Mongolia in the NMIFA Women’s U21 Three Nations Cup just a week ago.

In last year’s Marianas Cup, the NMI men’s U23 team clinched the title over Guam after they won with an aggregate score of 3-1 over two games. Guam took Game 1, 1-0, but NMI won big, 3-0, in Game 2 for its first Marianas Cup men’s title since its debut in 2007.

At press time, the NMI team is taking on Guam for the last game of the Marianas Cup. Results of that game will be posted in the next issue of Saipan Tribune.

Last Saturday, team captain Daniell Pablo set the tone for the home squad as he led the way and found an opening through multiple Guam defenders after a corner kick by Paul Lizama in the 45th +1 minute.

After the ball bounced off the leaping tries of a Guam and NMI player, Pablo readied and set himself for a kick that ricocheted off a Guam player and into the net for a 1-0 lead that was met by celebratory hugs and cheers by his teammates and the crowd.

Throughout the second half, late summer showers did not douse the NMI’s fire as they went on to play with growing intensity as each minute passed. Both teams’ heart and long-standing rivalry was displayed on the pitch and conjured up multiple yellow cards after hard contacts on the pitch.

But despite chances by Guam to tie the game up, they could not convert any into goals as the NMI’s defenses held up and keeper Mark Chavez held down the fort.

Then in the 82st minute, Pablo found himself in another scoring opportunity at the penalty box. He let one fly but was deflected by Guam’s keeper, then was immediately shot back in by Paul Lizama to secure the second goal for the home team. Eventually, Guam could not find the back of the net and fell, 0-2.

With Pablo and Lizama are Mark Chavez, Akoni Matsumoto, Leo Takahashi, Casey Chambers, Cody Shimizu, Andrew Sablan, Dev Bachani, Leland Deleon Guerrero, Nolan Ngewakl, Markus Toves, Ariel Narvaez, Edward Arriola III, Ruben Guerrero, Anthony Bergancia, Wataru Kadokura, Anthony Austria, Tyler Omelau, and Monico Claridades. Konomi Suzuki is the head coach, while Jershwin Angeles is the assistant coach, Jireh Yobech is the assistant coach/team manager, Merrick Toves is the goalkeeper coach, and Hazel Mabasa is the physiotherapist.

The Guam team is made up of Shuntaro Suzuki, Josiah Jones, Renzel Reburiano, Gavin Baker, Giacomo Bustamante, Nicolas Chargualaf, Landen Diaz, Aldryn Ednaco, Micah Elwell, Sean Halehale, Curtis Harmon, Matthew Hodgins, Luciano Jameson, Takayuki Kobayashi, Mason Manibusan, Nicholas Moore, Donovan Moss, Beau Perez, CJ Sablan, and Samuel Stenson. Dominic Gadia is the head coach, Michael Milner is the assistant coach, Jeroen Bos is the goalkeeper coach, Vance Manibusan is the team manager, and Ryan Claros is the team physiotherapist.

Pablo said of his first goal, “Honestly scoring the first goal of the game feels good. Knowing that we were a step closer to winning by that goal is a big advantage in the game.”

The match overall, he said, “was intense from the beginning, with the constant body contact from everyone. Knowing that, we all adapted well. Team NMI fought hard and played our style of football. We played with how we played and we did well.”

When asked how their performance this time around compares to last year’s cup and last April’s friendly matches, he said, “I can say compared to the Guam friendlies, we played really good.” But, he said, “Yesterday’s (last Saturday’s) win is not enough to celebrate. We have no trophy yet so we have no reason to celebrate. Onto today’s (yesterday’s) game, we have to play harder and keep the focus. We talked about representing our island and we’ll wear the flag uniform, so we have to play our hardest.”